Shower shield



Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

The present invention relating as indicated to a shower shield, has more particular reference to a novel form of metallic protective curtain for installation upon an ordinary standard bath tub having an overhead shower attachment. Heretofore it has been customary to use a simple form of canvas or fabric curtain carried by an overhead rod for shielding the shower bath spray and preventing water from being splashed out- 1; j side the margins of the bath tub.

It is a general object of my present invention to provide a metallic panel which will serve as a permanent installation occupying a minimum amount of space, and which shall not possess the disadvantages incident to the ordinary type of fabric protective curtain used in the prior art. It is a further object of my invention to provide auxiliary shower bath protective devices which may be conveniently and compactly folded within the margins of the shield when not in use. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, said disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view illustrative ,of a standard type of bath tub with the device embodying the principle of my invention in place thereon; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the inner side of the shower shield showing the floor mat folded up against the shield; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken substantially upon line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the position of the floor mat when in use; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing the construction of the auxiliary shower curtain supporting bracket; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of an alternative form of sealing construction between the shower shield and the upper edge of the tub.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown a standard type of bath tub indicated generally by the numeral I which is placed in the corner of the surrounding walls 2 and 3. A shower head 4 extends from the wall 2 and is suitably positioned over the inner end of the bath tub I.

My shower shield consists of the vertical panel portion 5 which is mounted upon the upper edge 6 of the tub I and supported at its outer corner by means oi a transverse supporting rod "I, The panel portion 5 is bounded upon its vertical sides by the inwardly projecting anges l) and II, and upon its upper horizontal side by the flange I2. These flanges I9, II and I2 are made of a width substantially equal to the width of the upper edge 6 of the tub, so that they will not form any dangerous extension into the interior or shower space of the tub. The flange II may be suitably secured to the bath room wall 2 in order to effect a more rigid and rm installaiton of the protective shield.

The panel portion 5 along its lower edge is angularly inclined into the drain board I3 in order to provide a means for satisfactorily directing the shower spray into the interior of the tub. The legs I4 and I5 are provided at each of L the lower ends of the shield panel 5 as a means for effectively supporting the weight of the device.

Directing attention to Fig. 4, in order to provide an efficient water-tight seal at the corner of the tub, a rubber gasket I6 may be inserted between the drain board I3 and the bath tub margin I.

It will thus be seen that i have provided a spray restricting enclosure which is substantially a vertical extension of the outside edge of the bath tub, and provides an inner recess for the reception of various auxiliary protective shower bath attachments which I have illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 more particularly, I provide the U shaped bracket I1 which is pivotally mounted on the inside supports I8 and I9 which in turn are positioned on the inside surfaces of the marginal flanges I and Il respectively. The pivoted bracket Il is adapted to carry a rubber oor mat 2l which may be secured to such bracket I'I by means of suitable marginal metallic clips 22. As best shown in Fig. 3, the U-shaped bracket I'I has a pair of short lugs I9 extending at right angles thereto. These lugs I9 are adapted to engage with the spring clip 20 when the bracket Il is in upright folded position as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

As an additional protective measure, especially where an exceptionally strong shower pressure is utilized, I may provide the auxiliary shower curtain 23 which is pivotally carried by the supporting arm 24 mount-ed at its inner end in the bracket 25, so that lthe auxiliary curtain 23 may sealing gasket 28.

be folded conveniently within the intenior space of the shower shield 5.

In the alternative form of construction illustrated in Fig. 6, where it is desired to provide a more efficient and expensive seal between the shower shield panel 5 and the upper edge 6 of the tuin, I have contemplated the provision of the angularly inclined portion 2liV extending from the Vertical panel portion 5, but at an angle, however, inore nearly approaching the horizontal than that of the angularly inclined portion YA downwardly depending Vertical flange 2l Y bent into the end or the inclined portion 26. In Y the space between the portion 26 and the upper edge 6 of the tub, there is inserted the soft rubber 'I'his latter described type of sealing construction possesses the additional advantage in that the shower shield may be readily and eiiciently installed on various types of bath tubs, regardless of the shape or contourV of the upper edge of the tub, since the rubber sealing gasket 28 will conveniently conform to such shapes or contours.

The above described shield may be constructed of stainless steel or pressed steel coated with enamel. Thus it will be seen that I have provided a device which, in addition to possessing various protective and precautionary features, occupies the minimum amount of space and presents a sanitary and durable shower restraining shield.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. In a protective shower shield for attachment to an ordinary bath tub, the combination of a vertical panel member, bracket means for holding a floor mat, said bracket means being pivotally mounted in said panel member and adapted to extend to the bottom of the tub and to be folded vertically against said panel member when said mat is not in use.

2. In a protective shower shield for attachment to an ordinary bath tub, the combination of a v vertical panel member, bracket means for holding a floor mat, said bracket means being pivotally mounted in said panel member and adapted to extend to the bottom of the tub and to be foided vertically against said panel member when said mat is not in use, and a pivoted arm positioned in the upper outer cornery of said panel member for ioldably supporting an auxiliary shower curtain. Y

3. A protective and spray restricting shield for attachment to a bath tub positioned between two walls disposed at right angles to each other, said shield being separable from the tub and having an offset panel portion parallel to and spaced from one of said walls and extending vertically in a. plane coincident with tne outer edge of the tub, transverse anges bounding said panel portion, and a rubber sealing member disposed between the lower outside edge vof said panel portion and the upper ide edge of said tub.

4. A protective and spray restricting shield for attachment to a batli tub positioned between two walls disposed at right angles to each other, said shield being separable from the tub and having an offset panel portion parallel to and spaced from one of said walls and extending vertically in a plane coincident with the outer edge of the tub, transverse marginal ilanges integral with said panel portion and extending inwardly to the piane of the inner edge of the tub, an inclined portion connecting said panel portion with the inner edge of the tub, and a rubber sealing member between the iower outside edge of said panel portion and the upper inside edge of said tub.

5. A protective and spray-restricting shield for attachment to an ordinary bath tub, comprising a vertical panel member and a` sealing member composed of compressible resilient material disposed and confined between the lower outside edge of said panel member and the upper inside edge of said tub, the bottom face of said sealing member being of a width substantially equal yto, the width of the upper edge of the "tub and adapted to be conformed thereto.

CHARLES D. IvrccoanfV 

